Legislation introduced to ban flavored tobacco in Washington
By Dan Thesman on Thursday, January 16th, 2025 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
OLYMPIA – Legislation has been introduced in the Washington Legislature to ban flavored tobacco sales statewide to protect youth from tobacco use and addiction. House Bill 1203 and Senate Bill 5183 have been filed.
Momentum is steadily increasing to end sales of flavored tobacco, including e-cigarettes, menthol cigarettes and smokeless tobacco pouches during the 2025 legislative session. HB 1203 has been referred to the House Consumer Protection and Business committee. SB 5183 has been referred to the Senate Health and Long-Term Care committee.
Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal supports the bills.
“We’ve seen for years a growing number, percentage of kids at young ages trying these products or using them weekly,” he said. “It’s so prevalent in many of our schools that student behaviors are impacted.”
Nearly 90 percent of youth using e-cigarettes report using flavored products. The 2024 National Youth Tobacco Survey shows 42 percent of high school users and 27 percent of middle school users, reported frequent or daily use, which is a strong sign of addiction.
The survey also included data on youth use of nicotine pouch products, which have seen a rapid increase in sales. The total number of youths using nicotine pouches has increased from 200,000 in 2021 to 480,000 in 2024. Nicotine pouches have the same characteristics as e-cigarettes which make them appealing to young people, including a variety of flavors, and are heavily promoted on social media and are easily undetectable by parents and school staff.
Photo via U.S. Food and Drug Administration
